Tech Wins Hyatt Regency Invitational Title

THE FLATS – With back-to-back-to-back sweeps, Georgia Tech volleyball (4-0) took the title at the Hyatt Regency Invitational on Saturday with wins over Abilene Christian and Georgetown. Freshmen Mariana Brambilla and Mikaila Dowd were tabbed to the all-tournament team and Brambilla was named the tournament MVP.

Head coach Michelle Collier says:

Georgia Tech 3, Abilene Christian 0The only two unbeaten teams in the tournament faced off in the second match of the day. The first set started out close, with neither team taking more than a two point lead to a tie at 12-12. A 5-0 run by the Jackets, sparked by a kill from freshman Mariana Brambilla, gave Tech an edge at 17-12 and Abilene Christian used the first timeout of the match. The Jackets kept rolling and a service ace from freshman Matti McKissock gave Tech its largest lead of the set at 21-14. A kill from sophomore right side Cori Clifton gave Tech set point at 24-16 and an attack error put it away at 25-16 to give the Yellow Jackets the 1-0 advantage.

Tech held the momentum to start out the second set. Another 5-0 run gave the Jackets the early lead at 6-1 on a kill by Brambilla. The Wildcats fought their way back into the set to tie the score at 7-7. The set stayed close to a tie at 13-13 before the Wildcats took a two-point advantage at 15-13. The Jackets used their first timeout then before the set could get out of hand. The Jackets tied the set at 20-20 on back-to-back blocks from the combo of Clifton and junior Kodie Comby. The team kept battling and with the set tied at 23-23 on another kill from Brambilla, sophomore Kendall Wilson came up with a monster block to give the Jackets set point. An attack error by the Wildcats gave Tech the win at 25-23 and the 2-0 lead.

Abilene Christian bounced back to take a 3-0 lead in the third but the Jackets swarmed right back to tie the set at 4-4 on a kill from Wilson. The teams went back and forth before a service ace from Comby put Tech up by two at 11-9. The set stayed close until 5-1 run spurred by a kill from senior Lauren Frerking put Tech up 17-12 and Abilene Christian used a timeout to slow the Jackets. A block off the hands of Comby and Clifton gave Tech a six-point lead at 20-14. At that point the set belonged to the Jackets and Tech secured its second sweep of the season at 25-15 on a block from Frerking and Clifton.

Georgia Tech 3, Georgetown 0The Jackets got off to a strong start, taking an early lead at 4-1 off a kill from Clifton. The Hoyas stuck with it, battling back but a 4-0 run by the Jackets with two kill from Dowd and a block from Comby and Clifton to lead 12-7. Tech took a seven-point lead at 15-8 on a solo block from Comby but Georgetown made a run to bring it back within four. The Hoyas came within one at 22-21 and the Jackets called their first timeout of the set. Dowd came out of the timeout with a kill to keep Tech on track. A block from Comby and Clifton gave Tech set point but the Hoyas tied the set at 24-24. The Jackets never trailed and with their fourth set point, Dowd and Frerking put up a block to take the set for the Jackets at 27-25.

The second set started out close. With six tied scores, the Jackets never trailed to a tie at 12-12. The Hoyas took their first lead at 13-12. Tech tied the score back up but Georgetown went up by two at 16-14 and Tech took its first timeout of the set. Tech took the first point coming out of the timeout and a kill from Brambilla tied the set at 16-16. A well-placed kill from Comby gave Tech back the lead at 17-16 and Georgetown used its first timeout. The Jackets kept at it, making a six-point run and Georgetown burned its second timeout as the Jackets extended their lead to 20-16. The Hoyas took a 5-0 run out of their second timeout to tie it at 20-20, inciting Tech to call its second timeout of the set. Clifton put Tech back on top with a kill coming out of the huddle but Georgetown responded to tie it again. A 3-0 run sparked by a kill from Brambilla put Tech up 24-21 and a solo block by Frerking took the set for Tech at 25-20, giving the White and Gold a 2-0 advantage.

The Hoyas took an early lead in the third set and trailing 7-3, Tech called a timeout. The Jackets took four in a row coming out of the timeout and Brambilla tied the score at 7-7 with a service ace, forcing Georgetown to call timeout. The Hoyas snuck back ahead by two but the Jackets made a 4-0 run, capped by a block from Dowd and Comby to lead 11-9. The Hoyas kept it close but the Jackets never trailed again and completed the sweep with a 25-19 win of the third set.

Up Next:The Jackets are back at home for another tournament next week, Thursday-Friday, Aug. 30-31 in O’Keefe Gymnasium. Tech will play four matches as part of the tournament and are scheduled to take the court at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days.

GT vs. ACU Tech tidbits:

On the heels of last night’s career night against Winthrop, sophomore Kendall Wilson rewrote her career high in kills with seven.

The sweep was Tech’s second sweep in less than 24 hours having swept Winthrop on Friday night.

Freshman Mariana Brambilla recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Brambilla’s 11 kills were a match high.

Tech has out-blocked its opponents 28 to 17 in the 2018 season and is averaging 9.3 total blocks a match.

GT vs. GU Tech tidbits:

Freshman Breland Morrissette made her collegiate debut against Georgetown.

Redshirt junior Coral Kazaroff made her debut in a Yellow Jacket uniform.

Brambilla recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs.

The sweep was Tech’s third sweep in 24 hours.

Tech once again out-blocked its opponent 12.5 to 7.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTVolleyball), Facebook (Georgia Tech Volleyball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.